e would find some unit of the
air force. The army must have its eyes, and any member of any air unit
could tell him more than he could learn here.

The spirit of this new type of adventure moved him to action. He had
often wondered about the life of the doughboy. Now, for the night, he
would fall in and march along with them. It would be fun just to be
going along, answerable to no one and making his way forward on foot, by
hooked rides, or by whatever means that presented itself and seemed
attractive.

Slinging his musette bag over his shoulder, and buttoning up his flying
coat, he stepped into the street, followed along the dark buildings for
a few yards and then fell in alongside a long line of infantrymen.

A mile beyond the edge of the town he regretted his action. Rain began
to fall in torrents. Ponchos were quickly donned by the men and they
again took up the splashing, sloshing line of march, grumbling a little,
joking about "Sunny France," and complaining over the harsh order that
forbade smoking.

From that one thing McGee knew for a certainty that they were being sent
forward under orders of the utmost secrecy. Men on the line of march
under cover of darkness were never allowed to smoke. An enemy airman,
should he pass over, would see a long line of twinkling fireflies. From
that he would know there was some sort of movement, and this information
would be speedily carried to the German High Command. So, without
displaying any lights whatsoever, the men and motors moved ever forward
along the muddy road.

The rain ceased as suddenly as it had come. The night was warm, for
September, and grey fog wraiths began rising from the ground. The
sweating horses, straining at the big heavy guns at the side of the
road, were blanketed in steam.

The traffic on the pitch black road was becoming increasingly heavy, and
now and again halts were made until someone, far ahead, succeeded in
working out the snarl. Then the troops would move forward again.

McGee no longer had any doubts concerning what was in store for these
thousands upon thousands of men, but he was beginning to question the
wisdom of his own move. He made no attempt to engage anyone in
conversation, fearing that it would result in some officious commander
ordering him to the rear.

Far ahead, against the black night sky, flashes of gunfire showed now
and then, the following thunder establishing the fact that the front was
within three or four hours